Edison's Cassell making a name for herself
Talented pitcher excelling against older competition
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

Edison 12-year-old Valerie Cassell warms up to pitch at the recent Pony Nationals 14U Tournament in Sterling, Va., where her team, The Newtown Rock, finished 33rd out of 118 teams this year and fifth place last year as 12-year-olds.

EDISON - With legendary softball coach and pitching guru Ernie Parker among 12-year-old Valerie Cassell's personal coaches, the Herbert Hoover middle school student and Edison resident is gaining fast notoriety from coast to coast.

Along with local softball coaches Tom Besser and Jim MacDonald, coach Parker has been working with Cassell this year and the results have been off the charts. Parker is known for his instructional videos such as "Mastering the Drop" and "Learning the Fundamentals of the Killer Rise," but is best known for his work with softball stars and Olympic gold-medalists Jennie Finch, Cat Osterman and Lisa Fernandez.

"I started working with coach Parker in February," Cassell said. "He works really hard and he's funny as well. His experience working with Olympians is an amazing asset."

This summer Cassell threw 143 innings with an ERA of 1.33 in competition pitting her against older batters. As a member of the Newtown Rock of Newtown, Pennsylvania, Cassell has traveled along the east coach to pitch to the region's top players. In addition, Cassell was asked to play for the R.C. Spirits of Rancho Cucamongo, California, and traveled with the team to Park City, Utah, to compete in the Triple Crown Tournament. At Triple Crown, Cassell placed first in the overhand throw competition beating out competitors four years her senior.

Cassell will rejoin the R.C. Spirits in September to compete in the Dot Richardson PFX Tournament. At the tournament, the amateurs will get a chance to play alongside professional players.

"This past year has been great for me," Cassell said. "I've been able to meet a lot of new friends and travel to new places."

In addition to her stay in Park City, Cassell made two trips to Virginia, an excursion to Maryland, and a peregrination to Bloomington, Indiana, to play with the Bristol Rising Stars of Pennsylvania.

The youngster's frequent flyer miles will continue to accumulate throughout the year as she plans to attend the All-American Fastpitch Fantasy Camp in Clermont, Florida, for a third straight year. The camp takes place in December.

"Valerie has given up her Christmas break the past two years to work out and attend the camp," Valerie's mother Stephanie Cassell said. "It's been a great experience for her to learn from coaches such as Dot Richardson and Laura Berg."

Berg is another Olympic gold-medalist famous for her all-out, Charlie Hustle style of play. Berg is a personal favorite of Cassell's along with Fernandez. Interestingly enough, an Edison-native and pitcher of local fame helped kick start Cassell's love for the sport.

As an 8-year-old playing for Jack Petty, Cassell had the opportunity to come face to face with then college pitcher Krystle Petty.

Petty, currently the coach of the Metuchen High School team, was a standout pitcher for J.P Stevens and Wagner College.

"I really think that was when Valerie developed a passion for the sport," Stephanie Cassell said.

"She was in awe of Krystle Petty and was glued to everything Krystle had to say. That was the beginning."

With her resume building into a most impressive one, Cassell's end looks to be nowhere in sight.